1957 Ford Thunderbird

[ModelcarJR]

I saw this on the shelf and remembered that I built this one when I was a 12 year old kid. I've always liked the 57 thunderbird and thought it was comparable to the Chevys and Corvettes of the same era. So I bought it and opened it when I got home. Although I may have been impressed with the all chrome engine when I was a kid, I was not as enthused about it now. There are few parts in this roller and the rear of the car was a mess. It was like the mold maker was told to stop and get it into production immediately! So I set about to fix the trunk and rear valance area but screwed up the trunk line. I couldn't live with the deep trunk line I had carved into it so I filled it with .020" rod and sanded it out. It actually looks pretty good now and the rest of the paint looks OK too.

I painted it Tamiya Coral Blue to finish up a can I had used earlier on a 57 Chevy and was going to paint the interior Tamiya Light Blue but it clashed with the Coral Blue. I didn't think I had enough Coral Blue for the interior but I had just enough and a little left for the wheel rims on the hubcaps. So this should keep me busy over the weekend while its raining. Thanks for looking! ?

Edited February 3, 2024 by ModelcarJR
spelling and grammar

[charger74]

Nice color 

[NOBLNG]

Looks great. That is almost the exact color I am painting my ‘56 T Bird.?

[LennyB]

Nice start John, I love the color.

I started building one of these years ago, painted it a similar blue and the paint job went south. Gave the body a brake fluid bath and the trunk area bulged and cracked, never had that issue with brake fluid before or since. Still have the kit unfinished in the box as there was no saving the body. Recently bought a  started kit off a goodwill auction for $8 bucks, not really a great price when you factor the shipping. But it had been listed on and off for months and had no takers. I felt sorry for it and finally decided to buy it. That body is now in the brake fluid, let's hope it survives. ?

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Eric and Greg! I appreciate your comments! 

Rubbed out the body, foiled it and painted the components in the engine bay. I touched it up with a brush after rubbing it out and I am dead out of paint so no more hiccups. I didn't take a photo of the hood but I think you can see it on the desk. I used the decal from the Jaguar that would have just been scratch off by the hood closure on the Jaguar so I used it for the scoop on this one! It looks good and it was totally a coincidence. I have a Keith Marks Thunderbird decal from the 56 T-bird I built some time ago so I hope I can get it on later. I'll work on the engine and interior tomorrow and I should be done by tomorrow night. A nice weekend build! Thanks for looking! ?

[TransAmMike]

Looking great John, perfect '57 T'bird color!

[Duddly01]

Great for a weekend build! 

[milo1303s]

I have like 7 of this kit from OG till now and other then the windshield surround errrr!!!   The body's themselfs look good best one being the craftsman kit

[David G.]

Great looking color and a fabulous job cleaning up the rear panel!

David G.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Lenny, Mike, Donald, Bob and David!  I appreciate your comments! 

They improved the decal sheet a bit by adding a dash gauge cluster decal. I also found on the border (almost missed it) Thunderbird letter decals. Not much that cam be done with the windshield other than putting the glass in the slit that is made for it, then glue the frame on with some white glue and hope it stays. That what I did. This one is done completely box stock, including no mirrors, no turn signal indicator lever, no wiring, and I left off the visors so I could mount the hardtop. its mounted with some handy tack so I can remove it. More complete photos in the "Under Glass" section. Thanks for looking! ?

[Duddly01]

Turned out great!

[David G.]

Nicely done!

I'll have a look for it in the "Under Glass" section.

David G.

[bobss396]

Getting the windshield in and looking good is the hardest part of this model. These and the early Corvettes too. I would have to compare this kit with the Monogram '56 kit, but AMT should retool the '57 sooner than later. I have a few vintage unbuilts and a couple of built up ones. The last one I did around 1995 may be able to be salvaged.

[slusher]

Very sharp color John…